The Bear
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0000 February 1st 1947.
Diplomatic Offices. Tokyo, Japan.
Minister Mamoru was greeted by two Ambassadors on his return from the monthly meeting with the Emperor. Both were from South American Countries with favourable diplomatic ties.
Two new trade agreements were signed with Argentina and Venezuela which would see more supplies leave Japan in exchange for much needed Energy. There was more of this commodity available on the open market but the costs were considerably higher and less would arrive as the convoys would have to travel from Europe or the Mediterranean.
2100 February 1st 1947.
The Skies Above Samoa.
Only one more bombing run would be needed by Ichimaru and Genda as they finished off the remains of the American fleet in Samoa.
The Light Carrier USS langley and the Heavy Cruiser USS Pensacola joined the rest of Admiral King's fleet at the bottom of the harbour.
0400 February 3rd 1947.
The Skies Above Iman.
Air General Shima led his battered Tactical bombers over Iman province in the early hours of February 3rd in search of an easy target.
The lone Infantry division was a suitable division to attack and the bombers would destroy it before moving on to a new area of operations. Vladivostok was still in Japanese hands which made any interception unlikely but that would change once the province was claimed by the Soviets, and Shima's bombers were in no fit state to encounter enemy fighters or interceptors.
0400 February 3rd 1947.
BB Division 1 Flagship. IJN Yamato, Gulf of Mannar.
Ozawa had positioned his fleet off the coast of Ceylon to protect the island from the frequent invasions by American forces. He closely monitored operations around the Persian Gulf while he waited for enemy ships to enter what was now a no go zone for them.
General Abe made landfall in Abadan province which was rich in Oil at 0400 hours on February 3rd. The Japanese beach head was expanding even though there were only six divisions involved. Tactical bombers operating from Kuwait City were trying to keep hostile forces away from the fragile landing zones but nothing could be done to prevent the large amounts of enemy Strategic bombers from levelling anything Japanese forces had captured.
The capture of Abadan forced the enemy fleet hiding in its port to leave and they ran into Carrier Group C which was protecting the landings from sea. A Nicuraguan Admiral would command the Transport ships as they became easy prey for the waiting Carriers. Aircraft from IJN Ryuho would sink one Mexican Transport flotilla before the rest managed to escape.
They sought refuge in the small harbour of Doha province. A port strike by Carrier Group C followed in the hope of convincing them to put back to sea. There was no safe haven in the Persian Gulf for Allied shipping.
0000 February 4th 1947.
Security Offices. Tokyo, Japan.
Minister Hakujiro held possibly one of the less demanding Cabinet posts as Security Minister but he was called into action on February 4th as an uprising occured in north eastern China.
Kaifeng province had revolted which required a response as a Militia division made its way from Qingdao on the coast. Further actions would follow to prevent any spread of the partisan activity. Hakujiro knew that Japan had been fairly lucky so far with only a minimum of activity from local partisans to contend with.
